Biz Beat 7-11-2013

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July 11, 2013 - 1:00am

Food and farm rights in Lane County are the focus of a citizens’ initiative petition filed July 10 at the Lane County Elections Office. The filing launches the Support Local Food Rights campaign, which, if successful, will be “the first food rights for residents and farmers to be established in Oregon,” according to chief petitioner Lynn Bowers. Ann Kneeland is the attorney for the campaign and can be reached at 255-0272 or annbkneeland@yahoo.com.

Jewish Events Willamette-valley (JEW) is a new nonprofit in Eugene dedicated to building Jewish community, pride and learning. JEW and the Bijou have teamed up to start the Eugene Jewish Film Festival, says JEW Executive Director Shmuel Shalom Cohen. “Edward at the Bijou suggested that we have an ongoing monthly film festival to keep people interested all year long, rather than an intense one-week period once a year and then be forgotten till next year,” he says. “Also it is easier for people to see a movie once a month instead of every day for a week.” The first movie is Fill the Void, an Israeli film. “It is unusual in that it is a movie about the ultra Orthodox Jewish world written by a woman from that world,” Cohen says. It will be shown at 2 pm Sunday, July 14, at the Bijou Metro downtown, with a discussion to follow. Ticket prices are $5 with donations above $5 going to JEW. See JewishEventsWillamette-valley.org and Bijou-cinemas.com/bijoumetro.

Institutional Stove Solutions (InStove) will be hosting its first “Spark-A-Change” event from 2:30 to 5 pm Saturday, July 13, at the Hideaway Bakery behind Mazzi’s at 3377 E. Amazon Dr. in Eugene. InStove designs, builds and places environmentally friendly cookstoves in refugee camps, schools and orphanages around the world. Staff and volunteers at this event will be demonstrating the technology and talking about their programs. The event is free but includes a raffle and food and drink sales to raise money to send a dozen stoves to Africa. See instove.org/events for more information.

Saturday Market downtown is in full operation this summer even during big regional events such as Art and the Vineyard and the Oregon Country Fair. Some of Saturday Market’s regular vendors will be out at the Country Fair this weekend, but many other craft and food vendors will be on the Park Blocks catering to locals and visitors. On the Market Stage this Saturday, starting at 10 am and running through the afternoon, will be Ken Silverman, Rich Glauber, Parzival, The Now Brothers, The Huckleberries and To the Bridge.

Fisherman’s Market at 7th and Blair has completed its extensive remodeling project, inside and outside and is celebrating July 10-16 with special offers and free samples. Owner Ryan Rogers, a commercial fisherman who bought the place in 1997, says the renovations will provide more space for customers eating inside. The market also does a lot of take-out business. Call 484-2722 or visit eugenefishmarket.com.

SELCO Community Credit Union has opened a new west Eugene branch at 3630 W. 11th Ave. The credit union opened for business in early June but had its ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration July 10. Local contractor McKenzie Commercial renovated the commercial building and it’s the first SELCO building to be equipped with solar panels. “To date, our carbon offset with the solar panels is equivalent to 27 trees,” says Kasey Easley of SELCO, “and this number continues to grow daily.”

The 12th annual Oregon Lavender Destinations Tour is Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14, at herb farms around the southern Willamette Valley. See oregonlavenderfestival.org for locations or call Carol Tannenbaum at 736-8575.

The nonprofit Mobility International USA, based in Eugene, is raising money on Kickstarter and from other sources to fund publication of the Brilliant & Resilient photography book, a project that recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of disabled women activists worldwide. Photography is by Brian Lanker, Darcy Kiefel and Paola Gianturco. So far, $7,355 has been pledged by 80 backers. See wkly.ws/1ic or call Susan Sygall at MIUSA at 343-1284.